One of the most recognisable games on the casino floor is roulette. We can recognise the classic wheel and table even if we don't know how to play, and this is frequently one of the first games we choose to learn how to play out of all the available table games.
It's evident from looking up a definition of roulette that there are various varieties of the game, therefore it's critical that you comprehend each one completely and their differences. Even if you might never play a single type, knowing how to differentiate between the many casino roulette tables is crucial.
There is disagreement over the exact origin of the roulette game. It was created in the eighteenth century, and its name is derived from the French for "little wheel." The game we play today was initially introduced in Paris in 1796, while there were other games of a similar nature played earlier in the century.
It was developed further in America and Europe. François and Louis Blanc, two French brothers, invented the modern single-zero roulette wheel in the German town of Bad Homburg in 1843.
Online Roulette
One of the most recognisable games on the casino floor is roulette. We can recognise the classic wheel and table even if we don't know how to play, and this is frequently one of the first games we choose to learn how to play out of all the available table games.
It's evident from looking up a definition of roulette that there are various varieties of the game, therefore it's critical that you comprehend each one completely and their differences. Even if you might never play a single type, knowing how to differentiate between the many casino roulette tables is crucial.
There is disagreement over the exact origin of the roulette game. It was created in the eighteenth century, and its name is derived from the French for "little wheel." The game we play today was initially introduced in Paris in 1796, while there were other games of a similar nature played earlier in the century.
It was developed further in America and Europe. François and Louis Blanc, two French brothers, invented the modern single-zero roulette wheel in the German town of Bad Homburg in 1843.
American, French, and European roulette are the three primary varieties of the game. The primary distinctions between these games are their rules, with French and European roulette being more similar than American roulette, though there are some minor variances as well, particularly when comparing online to casino roulette.
If you choose to play roulette, you may first be a little perplexed. This incredible game has a lot of rules and manners, so you need to be sure you know how to play them properly. Whether you play on a casino floor or online, this is true. To enable you to approach your first table with confidence, let's take a closer look at the world of roulette.
The roulette rules
Starting with the basic roulette rules is a good idea because they apply to all variations of the game, no matter which one you choose to play. All of the tables will be identically set up, with the roulette wheel at one end and the betting board adjacent to it.
Players will be invited to place wagers on the board by the croupier. A player can tell the croupier exactly how they would like to gamble by placing chips on the board in a certain pattern.
With a single button press, gamers in online roulette can then start the wheel spinning. The croupier will spin the wheel in games that occur in a real casino on the casino floor or in a live internet casino. While the roulette wheel is spinning, you can still put bets in certain casinos.
When the croupier says, "No more bets," or "Rien ne va plus" in casinos that speak French, betting stops. The croupier will place a special marker known as a dolly on the winner once the winning number and colour have been confirmed. The croupier will take care of collecting lost bets and subsequently pay out winnings. After collecting their winnings, players are free to start a new betting round.
This is the standard gameplay pattern for all roulette games, whether you're playing American, French, or European. Looking at the roulette wheel itself is the simplest way to distinguish between the different games.
The numbers on the roulette wheel range from 0 to 36, with the majority of the numbers being red or black in hue. For the number sequences ranging from 1 to 10 and 19 to 28, odd numbers will be red and even ones will be black. For the sequences from 11 to 18 and 29 to 36, the opposite is true.
What about the zero? This is easily recognised in European and French roulette games since it is a single green pocket. American roulette games also have it, however a second green pocket with the number 00 will join it. The primary distinction that will enable you to distinguish between the games is this: American roulette games include two green zero pockets, whilst French and European versions only have one.
Rules for American Roulette
Make sure you are familiar with some of the regulations pertaining to American roulette if you decide to play this type of game. Except for those who have placed a direct wager on that zero, all roulette players automatically lose when the ball falls on the zero in the wheel.
The player's odds are lowered since there is a greater likelihood that a 0 would win because the American roulette wheel has two 0 pockets. The odds of winning straight up, or when a player bets on a single number, are 35 to 1 on other wheels; however, while playing on an American roulette table, those odds increase to 37 to 1.
Additionally, a gamble known as the "basket bet," which pays out 6 to 1, is accepted at certain casinos. This is a line bet that is situated on the line that divides rows 0 and 1, 2, 3. Although it has low odds, this extra wager is not frequently placed, though some casinos do let you place it.
Rules for European Roulette
Some European roulette tables carry additional rules that can be called “en prison” or “la partage” depending on the table that you play at. “En prison” is applicable to en-money bets only and is connected to the 0.
Should the ball land on the 0, a player will be given two options as to what they can do. They can surrender half their bet to the croupier, but will be allowed to reclaim the other half, or they can leave the bet “en prison”. If they opt for the latter, the roulette wheel will be spun again, but this time for an all or nothing outcome. The whole bet will be lost if the spin is another 0, or if the outcome does not match the imprisoned bet.
“La partage” rules simply state that the bet will be split, with half being returned to the player and the other half being lost to the house.
French Roulette Rules
One of the main differences you will encounter in French roulette games is that these games are typically conducted in French. A player who is familiar with European style roulette should not have too much difficulty navigating such a game as the rules are the same, even including “la partage” and “en prison” at some tables.
Do not be discouraged from playing French roulette if you do not speak the language. Many online casinos use French and European interchangeably to mean the same game. If you are playing in a land-based French casino, you will often find that the croupier or even a fellow player might be able to aid you with some of the differences in the names.
However, some of the phrases that you may wish to familiarise yourself with include en plein (a straight bet), a cheval (a split bet), a passe et manque (the high or low bet), and rouge et noir (a simple red or black bet).
How to Play Roulette vs How to Play Roulette Online
Choosing to play roulette online is going to be a very different experience compared to playing it in a live casino. Though you can assimilate the experience somewhat through choosing to play a live online casino game, there are some marked differences.
When playing roulette in a land-based casino, you have to make sure that you are obeying the etiquette of the table. The croupier has final say in when the betting period closes and it is very important that you do not touch any chips until they have given the all-clear.
Some casinos require you to play with specific chips if you wish to approach the roulette tables. When buying your chips, be sure to state that you wish to play roulette so they can give you the right chips if needed. You may also be able to purchase them from your croupier directly. Do not attempt to make bets on the board with ordinary money as they will not be counted.
In an online casino, you are going to be able to set the speed with which the game plays out, especially if you are playing a game against an AI rather than with a live dealer. You can place bets as you choose and then hit spin in your own time, rather than playing to the rhythm of the croupier.
No matter whether you play with a live dealer at an online betting destination or at a physical table in your local casino, you need to make sure that you are always practicing good casino etiquette. Always be respectful to the croupier, and other players, and accept your losses with good grace. Make sure that you are also always practicing safe gambling and never bet outside your means. With roulette, there can be the temptation that you will be able to make your money back on your next spin, but – as with any other table game – this might not be the case.
Roulette Bets
With all of this established, you need to know what some of the bets on offer to you are in roulette! There are many different options that you can take, each with their own odds and outcomes.
Roulette Betting Options
Some of the easiest options to choose in roulette are called outside bets. These include ones such as high or low, or red or black. You will also find that you can bet on various number sequences, such as the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd rows, or on various dozens on the board. You can also bet on the 0 pocket. These outside bets are all clearly marked on the board and will be some of the wagers new players try as they are easier to understand compared to some of the other bets.
The main grid of the board has the various numbers and their corresponding colours. The easiest bet to make here is the straight bet, where you wager that the ball on the roulette table lands on a specific number.
A split bet is made by placing your chip on the line between two numbers, such as 23 and 26, and it means that you wish to bet on both of them. Likewise, a street bet sees you betting on three by placing your chip on their outside border, while a corner or square bet is a wager on four. You can choose to also bet on six numbers, which is referred to as a line bet.
Some American wheels also allow you to place bets on 5 numbers. This is referred to as “The Beast” and is a bet on 00, 0, 1, 2, and 3. The roulette house edge for such a bet is 7.89%, so make sure that you place a chip on each number individually as this can lower the edge for you.
Learning how to play the various wagers on offer is where the skill in roulette comes in. It is important to remember that the house always has the edge, and it is incredibly difficult to predict how the wheel is going to land. You need to make sure that you fully understand the payouts and the odds of winning of each type of bet – especially if you are going to start to make more complicated wagers such as multiple corner bets.
